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How Forklift Danceworks Raised $9,975 in 22 Days with a Golden Ticket Fundraiser
- Phil Sanger
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- Mar 24
- 3 min read
Forklift Danceworks didn't need a gala. They didn't need a venue, a caterer, or a committee.
They needed a great idea, a simple platform, and 22 days.
They got all three — and walked away with $9,975.
What Is a Golden Ticket Fundraiser?
A Golden Ticket fundraiser is a peer to peer campaign built around a single aspirational prize, typically a travel experience or "Pick your Paradise" getaway. Supporters buy in for a chance to win, fees are covered by donors, and the whole thing runs online with zero overhead.
Forklift Danceworks called theirs "Pick your Paradise." It was, in their own words, 100% homemade, simple, and effective.
The Numbers
Net amount raised | $9,975 |
Number of transactions | 55 |
Donor fee coverage | 92% |
Campaign duration | 22 days |
Actual cost to Forklift Danceworks | $25 |
That $25 represents 0.25% of total funds raised. On a flat fee platform like HelloFund, your cost does not scale with your revenue.
How Did They Pull It Off?
Forklift Danceworks used HelloFund's peer to peer fundraising platform to build and launch the campaign. The setup was fast, the page was branded to their organization, and the donor experience was fully mobile friendly.
Here is what the platform handled for them: secure online payments, real time transaction tracking, automated receipts, and donor fee coverage prompts that resulted in 92% of supporters choosing to cover the processing fees themselves.
No spreadsheets. No manual follow up. No outside payment processor to wrangle.
Why Donor Fee Coverage Changes Everything
Most organizations quietly absorb processing fees and never think to ask donors to cover them. HelloFund builds the opt in directly into the checkout flow.
When 92% of 55 donors cover the fee, the organization keeps nearly the entire gross. That is how you raise $9,975 and spend $25.
What Made the "Pick Your Paradise" Concept Work?
A few things:
A compelling prize. Travel experiences create real excitement. A golden ticket to choose your own destination is broad enough to appeal to a wide audience and aspirational enough to drive real participation.
A low barrier to entry. Supporters did not need to attend an event or spend a large amount. They just needed to want to win.
A clear deadline. Twenty two days is long enough to build momentum and short enough to create urgency. The campaign did not linger.
A platform that got out of the way. Forklift Danceworks spent their energy on promotion, not logistics. HelloFund handled everything else.
Could Your Organization Run This?
If you have a community of donors, a social media following of any size, and a prize worth wanting, yes.
You do not need a tech team. You do not need a large budget. You need a page, a concept, and the discipline to promote it consistently for three weeks.
HelloFund can have your page live the same day you decide to run it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to set up a HelloFund fundraising page? Most campaigns go live within a few hours. Forklift Danceworks launched same day.
What does HelloFund charge for peer to peer fundraising campaigns? HelloFund charges a flat fee. Your cost does not increase as you raise more money. Forklift Danceworks raised nearly $10,000 and paid $25.
What is donor fee coverage and how does it work? During checkout, HelloFund prompts donors to cover the processing fee on top of their contribution. Most donors say yes. Forklift Danceworks had 92% coverage, meaning they kept nearly every dollar raised.
Do I need to offer a travel prize to run a Golden Ticket campaign? No. The prize can be anything your audience values. A dinner, an experience, a piece of art. The concept works as long as the prize creates genuine excitement.
Is HelloFund only for large nonprofits? No. HelloFund serves organizations of all sizes. The flat fee structure actually benefits smaller organizations most, because a percentage based platform would have cost Forklift Danceworks hundreds of dollars on the same campaign.
Ready to Run Yours?
HelloFund is a flat fee auction and fundraising software platform built for nonprofits, private schools, and Catholic schools. Questions? Email phil@hellofund.com.
